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Dear people of Emmanuel,
Merry Christmas! By the time you read this, most of the culture around us will already have “finished” Christmas. Trees will be coming down, radio stations will have moved on from carols, and stores will be preparing for the next big sale (maybe Valentine’s Day, who knows). But in the life of the Church, Christmas Day is not the end of the story—it is the beginning. December 25 is the first day of the Twelve Days of Christmas, a season of celebration and wonder that leads us to the Festival of Epiphany.
We may only gather for worship on Christmas Eve and the First Sunday of Christmas, but the Church’s calendar reminds us that Christmastide is meant to unfold slowly. It invites us to linger at the manger, to dwell in the mystery of God-with-us, and to mark holy days not only in the sanctuary, but also in our homes. Even though we don’t worship together, you can still open the scriptures, light a candle, pray, and remember that Christ comes for you.
Here are the festivals and readings during the Twelve Days of Christmas. I encourage you—individually, as a couple, or as a household—to set aside a few quiet minutes each day to read, reflect, and pray:
December 26 — Festival of St. Stephen, Deacon and First Martyr
2 Chronicles 24:17–22 • Acts 6:8–7:2a, 51–60 • Matthew 23:34–39
We remember Stephen’s witness to Christ’s radical love and forgiveness.
December 27 — Festival of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist
Genesis 1:1–5, 26–31 • 1 John 1:1–2:2 • John 21:20–25
John reminds us that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
First Sunday of Christmas
Isaiah 63:7–9 • Hebrews 2:10–18 • Matthew 2:13–23
We hear how God enters fully into our human story to redeem it.
December 28 — Festival of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs
Jeremiah 31:15–17 • 1 Peter 4:12–19 • Matthew 2:13–18
We remember the children killed by Herod’s fear—and entrust all innocent suffering to God’s heart.
December 31 — New Year’s Eve
Ecclesiastes 3:1–13 • Revelation 21:1–6a • Matthew 25:31–46
We reflect on the God who holds all time and leads us into a new year of grace.
January 1 — Festival of the Name of Jesus
Numbers 6:22–27 • Galatians 4:4–7 • Luke 2:15–21
On the eighth day, the Child is named “Jesus,” meaning “God saves.”
Second Sunday of Christmas
Jeremiah 31:7–14 • Ephesians 1:3–14 • John 1:1–18
We dwell in the beauty of John’s proclamation: “The Word became flesh and lived among us.”
These holy days help us remember that Christmas is not a single moment—it is a season of grace. Christ’s coming is not confined to a single worship service or day. God’s love continues to unfold, surprise, confront, challenge, comfort, and renew us.
So I invite you—keep your nativity up a little longer. Light a candle at dinner. Say a simple prayer of thanksgiving. Read a gospel story aloud. Sing a carol even if the world has gone silent. Let the joy of Christ’s birth breathe into your life for all twelve days.
And as Epiphany approaches, may we be like the Magi—still seeking, still journeying, still amazed that God has come so near.
Blessed Christmastide to you and those you love,
Pastor Will
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